Where are you taking me?

What’s so good about the good news?

With school over for the year, I am able to enjoy some fun reading, and I am happy to report that I have throughly enjoyed Peter J. Gomes’ new book, “The Scandalous gospel of Jesus: what’s so good about the good news”. Some reading this might remember his previous best seller, “The Good Book, reading the Bible with mind and heart.”

Gomes, in plain and simple language, yet with enough of a scholar’s touch, states that Jesus came preaching, but the church wound up preaching Jesus. He asks why does the church insist upon making Jesus the object of its attention rather than heeding, and I add, truly preaching what Jesus taught? The Rev. Gomes, since 1974, has been at Harvard University, serving as Plummer Professor of Christian Morals, and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church. Read More »

While I was attending the NAAD Conference in Seattle, I came across this book which was sub-titled, 10 Ways to Balance Your Life on the Job. This would not normally be a book I would choose to read as I work full time in church ministry, and if I could not find spirituality in my work then something was wrong, but the idea sounded like something I could possibly use as a book study, or at least use as a resource for an upcoming Benedictine Work Day I am planning to lead in October.

Once I started the book I was taken in by the authors relaxed conversational writing style as it became immediately apparent he was not writing at me, or preaching, no..it was more as if over the years Pierce had slowly found things which worked, and graciously wished to share them with others. He speaks about this in his introduction which says: Read More »